Game trap



Apr; 3, 1923. 1,45@,775

J. HARDAWAY GAME TRAP Filed Aug. 25, 1922 Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

TES

JAB/DEB HARDAWAY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME TRAP.

Application filed August 25, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JARDER HARDAWAY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, has invented new and useful Improvements in Game Traps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient game or rodent trap and confining device which may be released morely by the weight of a relatively light animal upon the treadle; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a plan view, with the top portion of the cage omitted, of a trap mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the door holding and trip mechanism.

The cage 10 which obviously may be of any dimensions to suit the size of the animals to be trapped, and consists of a wire structure erected upon a base 11 is provided with a door 12 preferably hinged at its lower edge as indicated at 13 for inward folding movement and actuable by one or more springs 14L tending to close the same by outward swinging movement. Preferably the opposite or rear end of the cage is provided with an outwardly opening door 15 to permit of removing the trapped animal, and suitable fastening means 16 being provided for both doors to lock them in their closed positions.

Mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon a swinging fulcrum 17 is a trip lever 18 consisting in the construction illustrated of substantially parallel wire elements connected at one end with a looped springimpelled frame 19 and adapted at the other end for overlapping relation and engagement with the free edge of the door 12 which in its open position as indicated in Figure 1 is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the line of tension of the door closing springs 14 which are connected with the door by means of eyes 20, so that the closing impulse imparted to the door when in its fully open position by reason of the tension of said springs is comparatively slight and Serial No. 584,241.

increases as the door approaches its closed position, to the end that a very slight downward pressure upon the free edge of the door when in its open position is sufficient to effectually resist the tension of said springs and maintain the door in its open position.

The swinging fulcrum 17 consists of a loop having its terminals mounted in hearing blocks. 21 on the base, and the function of said fulcrum is to permit of longitudinal movement of the trip lever in addition to the pivotal movement thereof, to compensate for the swinging movement of the spring frame 19. The latter is provided with terminal spring coils 19 having a tendency to raise the free end of the frameand thereby cause a downward pressure of the free end of the trip lever to resist the upward swinging puovement of the door when in its open posi- Connected with the swinging fulcrum by means of links 22 is a treadle plate 23 which rests and rides upon the free end of the spring frame 19 which in the set position of the parts is substantially in the plane of the trip lever but with its outer end raised slight- 1y above said plane to offer a sufficient resistance to the downward pressure of the treadle plate to prevent the release of the trap door. When, however, the weight of an animal is imposed upon the treadle plate it is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring frame and thereby depress the inner end thereof and in so doing tilt the trip lever sufiiciently to disengage the free end thereof from the trap door, said tilting movement being supplemented by the longitudinal rearward movement of the trip lever incidental to the swinging fulcrum 17, so that the free end of the trip lever is moved clear of the free end of the door to permit of the closing of the latter under the in fiuence of its actuating springs.

Obviously the trap may be set merely by opening the door and depressing the free edge thereof sufficiently to permit of the forward movement of the trip lever into a position in terminal overlapping relation therewith.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one end with the free edge of the door, and a swinging frame connected with the other end of said lever and spring impelled in adirection to cause a downward pressure of the door engaging end of-said lever.

2. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one endwith'the free edge of the door, and. a swinging frame connected with the other end of said lever and spring impelled, in a direction to cause a downward pressure of the doorfengaging end of said lever,"said frameronsisting of a spring actuated loop.

3. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one end with the free edge of the door, and a swinging frameconnected with the other end of said lever and spring impelled in a direction to cause a downward pressure of the door engaging end of said lever, a treadle plate being loosely seated upon the freeend of said frame.

l. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one'end with the free edge of the door, and a swinging frame connected with the other end of SfllCl lever and spr ng impelled in a direction to cause a downward pressure of the door engaging end of said lever, a treadle plate being loosely seated uponthe free end of said frame and connected by links with the fulcrum of said lever.

5. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one end with the free edge of the door, and a swinging frame connected with the other end ofsaid lever and spring impelled in a direction to causea downward pressure of the door engaging end of said lever, said lever fulcrum being movable longitudinally of the lever tocompensate for the swinging movement of the frame to which said lever is connected.

6. A trap having a cage provided with an inwardly opening spring closed door, a trip lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point for engagement at one end with the free edge of the door, and a swinging frame connected with the other end of said lever and spring impelled in a direction tocause a downward pressure of 'the door engaging end of said lever,said fulcrum consisting of a swinging loop for movement in a path parallel with the length of the triplever.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

J ARDER HARDAWAY. 

